Bass No 1

Thx to Magic dave6 I also got a chance to try the 1902 Kings Ale. That’s 104 years of cellaring. Thx a whole f...ing lot mate. I was lucky to get the first or second pour, and my beer tasted really good. The later pours seemed to taste more and more sourish and vinegarish. Mine had a madeira-like aroma, with a little sour and quite oxidized touch, evident alcohol and caramel maltyness. It was a murky brown beer without head, actually looking very nice. Except for those few chunks of cork floating in it. There were some sourness and a good oxidation in the flavor too, with caramel maltyness, a little nutty touch and a surprising bitterness. Full-bodied and sweet, slightly warming. The sourness were most evident in the long finish, where it also had company of alcohol and some caramel. Would have rated it 8-4-7-4-16-4. Maybe it’s getting extra points for the age, but that doesn’t matter, it’s not that sample I’m rating. Once again, thx a lot Tom, it was a great experience. (060826)

Bottle at Kulminator. As Kings Ale, 1981 vintage, 8% ABV. Served in Kings Ale glass! A dark copper beer with a small beige head. Vinous, nutty, caramel, beef-stock aroma with obvious signs of oxidation, but not in an unpleasant way at all. Very mellow, and no aromas really stand out. The flavor continues in the more or less the same way, with caramel, some roasted malt, a little piney hops, some slightly warming notes of alcohol and a mild oxidation. Quite thin body, and with a touch of sourness in the finish, which is also surprisingly hoppy. It’s a privilege to taste a 25 year old beer of this quality. (080714)

(Draught from mini-keg) Pours dark reddish brown. The aroma is medium to heavily malty and vinous with tones of caramel, fudge, bread and dried fruits/raisins/plums. Undertones of earthy and herbal hops. Some alcohol warmth. The flavour is fat malty and vinous with notes of caramel, fudge, dried fruits and fiery alcohol. Medium hop bitter, medium sticky sweet and rather salty. The mouthfeel is syrupy, chewy and light spicy. The finish is dry and tart. Near full-bodied.

Name: Bass No. 1
Date: 06/21/2008
Mode: Hand Bottled
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: clear dark brown, scant head,
Aroma: sweet dark caramel aroma with dark fruits and light alcohol,
Body: big body with a stickyness,
Flavor: rich dark caramel candy flavor, emerging fruit, touch of chocolate, light balancing earthyness grows almost into distraction, alcohol adds a bit of heat to the caramel, long bitter finish,
Overall: needs a bit more time for the earthyness to fade and let the fruity character develop,

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 4/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

(6/29/08) Mini-keg sample at RBESG08 grand tasting in Plzen. Deep amber with a tiny beige head. Aroma of malt, some plums and caramel. Sweet malty flavor with caramel, big dark fruit character, hints of chocolate and a bit of alcohol. Quite full-bodied.

Bottled up from minicask. Mahogany with virtually no head. Full mouthfeel, quite vinous and sticky, with a treacley thick feel to it. Heady, amalgamated flavours of fruit, caramel, plums and port wine. Mellow and mature enough to partially disguise the alcohol. Bready malt in the finish, it’s certainly a biggie, had to have a lie down after that.

Courtesy TheCheeseMan. Clear dark copper color, no head or foam to speak of. Light notes of tobacco and plum over alcohol, vanilla and oak-like notes and lightly peppery malts. Sweet malty notes over flavors of oak and alcohol that really lends a vinous character. Very low carbonation, but takes nothing away from the enjoyment of the brew. The taste has a zip to it that I really liked and am thankful to have been able to taste this treat.

handbottled, thanks to magicdave! Drank with Oakes to celebrate my birthday. Totally flat, muddy, warm dark mahogany color. Oodles of honey and fig jam in the nose. Some oxidation noticable from being shipped overseas. Vanilla pudding and tapioca pudding too. Quite an astonishing array of sweet, dessert wine-like aromas. Flat, smooth, and silky palate. Not missing the co2 at all. Damn good balance of flavors but the aroma and the flavors differ considerably. The initial pudding flavors are the main extension of the nose. Shockingly smooth, amazingly mellow. Gorgeous. Bread crust. Like a banana pudding with burnt caramel sugar on top. Long lingering roasted malt and burnt bread crust finish. Lovely, gorgeous barley wine with endless fun complexity.

(Party keg 500 cl) Clear warm reddish brown with a small off-white head. Warm sherry-like nose with plenty of alcohol. Very full-bodied dominated by notes of wood and overripe fruit with an oxidized touch. Low in carbonation with a warming alcoholic finish with only a light bitterness. 290608